unless you're bullet proof || open (with some closed prompts in comments)

[swordandshield]

CHARACTERS: Felix, closed prompts for Kazuma, Finn and Steve, and OTA prompts
LOCATION: various around Ximilia station
DATE: the weeks post-Die is Cast mission
CONTENT: boredom in the infirmary, escaping said infirmary, random tidbits; giving Kazuma his pocketwatch back, training Finn and Steve
WARNINGS: language, whiny bored manchild, maybe mild violence in training

i. we set to survive || infirmary

[Felix barely remembered getting to the infirmary. He was pretty sure someone dragged his limp body through the hallways to get him here after their arrival back on the station. Lucky for everyone involved he didn't have his armor on. Everyone but him actually.

What was done was done. Felix could hardly move to scratch his nose even now that he was back on the station, pumped full of medicine, liquids, magic, and whatever else this place had for healing methods all combined. He hoped they mixed better than meds and alcohol generally did not in his personal experience because otherwise he was not looking forward to his days here.

A week's worth of time. He was stuck in the infirmary recuperating his strength for a full goddamn week. Every second of it was dull and aching and boring when he wasn't flat out sleeping off the pain.]

When can I leave?

[He asked often as if he wasn't still using up all his energy just to lift a glass of water to his mouth. Thank fuck for straws.]

Why are you here?

Fuck. That hurts!

This is the longest time I've spent in an infirmary and I hate it.

Just give me a damn book to read, I don't care what it is.

[Were also common things he said to whoever came too close. He was miserable, bored, and everyone around was damn well going to know it.]

ii. we tread, we rise, on earth can't keep us || hallways from infirmary to rooms

[After a week passed, Felix was ready to get the hell out of the infirmary. Except perhaps his body wasn't quite as ready as his mind would have liked. It took him a few tries to make it off the bed quietly enough not to alert a damn medic or helper. Then it was an effort to make it out of the door without his legs giving out on him.

When he made it into the hallway he felt instant relief--followed quickly by the urge to sit the fuck down. Just slide down the wall and plop his ass on the floor. He somehow managed to resist the urge and put one foot in front of the other. Felix was determined to make it to his room before he passed out. He had walked farther and survived worse than this, he could manage a simple walk down the hall to his quarters. Despite his determination however, his hand stayed against the wall for added support.

And he didn't necessarily make it to his room without being caught. He was easy to spot whenever he stopped to regain some strength every so often, leaned heavily against the wall just to stay upright. Hopefully no one would try to put him back in the infirmary. He was very insistent he just get to his room. He'd be fine after that.]

iii. it's lonely on the other side || common area(s)

[A few more days passed while Felix stayed in his room well away from everyone else. It was nice but Felix was used to social interaction on a near daily basis. He couldn't stay hidden away forever.

When he reemerged he had somehow managed to get his armor on by himself. His swagger returned with the comforting shell of form fitting undersuit and carapace-like outer armor. He no longer limped or held his hand against the wall for support although those with a careful eye might notice he did pause every so often possibly to regain his strength. But the armor hid the rest and supported him with its shape and powered form. It held him in place. He felt better with it around him. He wasn't going to take it back off for a while.

During lunch and super times he could be found in the cafeteria. His helmet was off while he ate, set aside on the table near him. Anyone trying to touch it would get their hand slapped.

In the common area he could sometimes be spotted lounging in a chair with a book in hand. Yes, he did manage to lounge while in his full set of armor. He even managed to look comfortable. Keep him company and he might read a passage from his book out loud for entertainment. It seemed to bring him some calm and comfort to read for an audience.

In the training room the mercenary found out rapidly that his usual work-out routine was still a little bit too much for him. A piece of equipment clattered to the ground angrily as Felix threw it to the ground in frustration one late evening. Even with the armor supporting him he grew tired too fast. He had to take breaks often and reevaluate his routine to suit his current condition. It irritated the hell out of him so he made for a poor exercise partner at the moment.]

iv. wildcard!

[something else you'd like to do? hit me with something! or give me a ping via PM or AisuYoukai for plotting.]

Comments

[heroooic]

[ Felix's watchful gaze was one that Finn had become accustomed to over the last couple months. Appraising, critical, and no-nonsense. But Finn had also become accustomed to training with Steve, which always carried a uniquely different energy. The two of them would rough house for hours, more trying to make each other laugh than anything.

How much Steve and Felix knew each other already, Finn wasn't fully aware. What he was aware of how strange it was blending the two worlds. He'd experienced Felix's wrath more than once for having a little too much fun during a training session. The thought of Steve getting the same treatment... Finn isn't fully sure why, but it made his insides twist up.

Steve was cool. Finn knew it, and it was very important to him that Felix also know it.

When Steve comes at him this time, Finn's best looks a little different than usual. His reflexes were slower, his movements sloppier, and his reactions to Steve's landed hits a little more explosively acted out. Steve's confidence seems to grow with each landed hit as well, bringing renewed energy to the boy's sparring. When he lands the fight's final blow, Finn doesn't even have to play up his response. He goes ass over teakettle, skidding a few feet. ]

Whoa. [ He looks up, blinking dumbly from the impact, before bursting out into delighted laughter. ] Dude, that ruled! My ears are still ringing. Felix, did you see that??

[spikedbats]

[ For all of Steve's athletic prowess, he never had any formal training. He didn't take wrestling, or any sort of martial arts. He has never been trained with a weapon. He knows he's not that great, though he has been given some guidance here and there by other orbers.

So he doesn't exactly expect to win the brawl with Finn. Especially not with Felix present. Because there's something about Felix's presence that throws Steve off and it's not entirely unpleasant, but at the same time he doesn't know what to do with it.

But he does try, and his efforts apparently pay off, because at the end of the round, Finn is knocked onto his ass and Steve is left looking bewildered. ]

Holy shit. Did I...did that...? [ And Finn's laughter is kind of infectious, so he does find himself laughing along, though as soon as he's reminded that Felix is still there, he stops himself mid laugh and clears his throat, cheeks colored pink as he avoids eye contact from Finn, and avoiding looking at the eye shields on Felix's helmet. ]

So...how'd we do? [ Still not looking, even though there's no way he would actually be able to gauge Felix's reaction so long as he kept wearing that damn armor. ]

[swordandshield]

Yeah, I saw it.

[Felix's tone was caught somewhere beneath his breath as an annoyed aside to himself and a growling reprimand aimed at Finn before he actually got to the yelling portion of it. The ex-soldier closed the distance between himself and the two young males with quick strides. Once he stood in front of both of them the reprimand really started.]

You performed like shit. In particular you [Felix pointed an accusatory finger at Finn] because we both damn well know that that performance was utter bullshit compared to your usual training sessions. [Felix pointed to the far end of the room.] Ten laps, now.

[Felix waited until Finn began--quieting any protests from the teenager with quick, angry snaps if there were any tried on him--before turning his attention towards Steve. The mercenary's demeanor suddenly took on a new expression as his body posture relaxed and the tension eased from the air around him. He even went so far as to unseal his helmet and pull it off. He propped it against his hip as he held onto it one-armed.

The look on Felix's face was serious but without anger as he stared at Steve with a critical eye. A carefully calculated neutral to express his intent without worrying the younger man as much as, he suspected, the angry reprimands from earlier. Felix was no drill sergeant. He read people and used their emotions to his advantage rather than pure intimidation. Although that had its place in his repertoire as well.

Felix took a step closer to Harrington and used a level tone when he spoke.] You're a street brawler. Definitely been in a few fights with low stakes on the line. Scrappy, resourceful. There's nothing wrong with that in a small town backalley fight.

But you can do better. I'm going to show you how, and I expect you to pick it up quicker than the kid. [He raised his brows in a sort of 'you got that?' expression, challenging Steve to perform as expected. Was he asking for too much from Harrington? Maybe. But it also had good potential to motivate the young adult into putting more effort into his training.]

[heroooic]

[The dressing down is expected and, for whatever reason, it doesn't seem to hit quite as hard as Felix's anger usually does. If anything, Finn almost feels powerful in that moment. He flashes Steve a covert thumbs up before immediately breaking into a jog.]

Aye-aye, teach!

[Say what you could about his coordination, but the kid was fast. Talk fast, you two.]

[spikedbats]

[ All those years spent striving to be the best, seeking out popularity is now backfiring as he soaks up Felix's advice like a sponge, feeling himself sink inwards. He wants to impress Felix, to be someone who he will eventually sing the praises of. So naturally, it stings a little to hear the criticism, however warranted it is.

At least with Finn there it had been easier to stomach. He's a damn good buffer, and once he goes to run laps, it feels like something in the air shifts. He finds himself standing up straighter, hands folded behind his back, and maybe even gulps as he stands there under Felix's gaze.

He expects Felix to come off harsher, but there's a determination in Felix's tone that surprises Steve. He isn't able to disguise that surprise as he turns to look at him, taken aback. Why, he's not really sure, considering that's the whole point, right? To train, to learn all these combat skills that he never picked up since his only experience fighting was against other students. He won't pretend that one Russian wasn't a fluke. ]

You're right, never really had to learn. Though I wouldn't say the stakes were always low. [ Maybe he'll expand upon that at some point, but this doesn't seem to be the time or place for that. ] I do want to learn, though. To get better.

[ And Steve's always been good at performing well under pressure. It's why he's always made team captain or co-captain. So maybe it's that bit of drive, that need to impress that has him nodding, resolved to showing Felix that he's right about Steve, that he can pick it up faster. ]